14 LADIES ON HORSEBACK. 



not appear to be aware that it is cmel : but 

 there is no greater sign of utter ignorance. 

 Horses are not naturally vicious, and very few 

 of them who have had any sort of fair-play in 

 training, really require a curb, or will go as 

 well or pleasantly upon it as if ridden in a 

 snaffle-bridle. 



Your saddle is another most important 

 point. Never commence, be your age ever 

 so tender, by riding upon a pad. Accustom 

 yourself from the beginning to the use of a 

 properly constructed saddle, made as straight 

 as a board, seat perfectly level, and scarcely 

 any appearance of a pommel upon the off-side. 

 A leaping-head, or what is commonly termed 

 a third crutch, is, in my opinion, indispensable. 

 To procure a saddle such as I describe you 

 must have it made to order, for those of the 

 present day are all made with something of a 

 dip, which is most objectionable. I do not 

 like the appearance of much stitching about 

 a saddle. It has always appeared to me 

 absurd to see the amount of elaborate em- 

 broidery which every old-fashioned saddle 

 -carries upon the near flap. Nothing could be 



